1. Introduction
The Tech COOP Pty Ltd ABN 89 695 606 387 ("The Tech Co-op", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our members, prospective members, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
By accessing our website (tcoop.co), using our services, or becoming a member, you agree to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.
2. What is Personal Information?
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information or opinion is true or not, and whether it is recorded in a material form or not.
Examples of personal information we may collect include:
- Names and business contact details (email addresses, phone numbers, business addresses)
- Job titles and company information
- Payment and billing information
- Account credentials and login information
- Communication records and support tickets
- Usage data and service interaction information
- Any other information you provide to us
We do not knowingly collect sensitive information (such as health information, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal records) unless required by law or with your explicit consent.
3. How We Collect Personal Information
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
We collect information when you:
- Apply for or register a membership
- Complete forms on our website
- Interact with our chat widget or support tools
- Communicate with us via email or other channels
- Participate in cooperative activities, calls, or forums
- Provide feedback or respond to surveys
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:
- IP address and browser type
- Device information and operating system
- Pages visited, time spent, and navigation paths
- Referring website or source
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 8)
3.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from:
- Payment processors (Stripe) for billing verification
- Analytics services for website usage data
- Publicly available business information (e.g. ABN Lookup)
4. Why We Collect Personal Information
We collect and use personal information for the following purposes:
- Processing membership applications and managing accounts — APP 3, necessary for service delivery
- Providing access to shared specialist resources — APP 3, necessary for service delivery
- Processing payments and billing — APP 3, necessary for service delivery
- Communicating about your membership, updates, and service changes — APP 3, necessary for service delivery
- Improving our services and member experience — APP 3, directly related purpose
- Analysing website usage and performance — APP 3, directly related purpose
- Responding to enquiries and providing support — APP 3, necessary for service delivery
- Complying with legal and regulatory obligations — APP 3, required by law
- Protecting our rights and preventing misuse — APP 3, legitimate interest
We will not use your personal information for purposes other than those stated above without your consent, unless permitted or required by law.
5. Disclosure of Personal Information
5.1 Who We May Share Information With
We may disclose your personal information to:
- Specialist team members — to deliver services you have requested through the cooperative
- Payment processors — currently Stripe, for billing and payment management
- Technology providers — hosting, email, chat, and analytics services that help us operate
- Professional advisors — lawyers, accountants, or auditors as needed
- Government authorities — where required by law (e.g. ATO, ASIC)
5.2 We Will Never
- Sell your personal information to third parties
- Share your information with other members without your consent (unless necessary for cooperative service delivery)
- Use your information for unsolicited direct marketing without your prior consent
5.3 Overseas Disclosure
Some of our technology providers may store or process data overseas. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure those parties comply with standards comparable to the APPs. Current service providers with overseas data processing include cloud hosting, email platforms, and analytics tools. We will update this section if our providers change materially.
6. Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement both technical and organisational measures to protect it from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These measures include:
- Encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest where supported
- Access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel only
- Regular review of security practices and service providers
- Secure payment processing through PCI-DSS compliant providers (Stripe)
- Staff and specialist training on data handling obligations
While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically:
- Active members: Data retained for the duration of your membership plus a reasonable period after termination to manage any outstanding obligations
- Former members: Core records retained for 7 years after membership ends (consistent with Australian tax and business law requirements)
- Prospective members and website visitors: Enquiry data retained for up to 24 months from last contact
- Payment records: Retained for 7 years as required by Australian taxation law
When personal information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience and analyse website usage. These include:
- Essential cookies: Required for site functionality (session management, security)
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (e.g. Google Analytics or similar)
- Chat widget cookies: Required for our chat support tool (Tawk.to) to function
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our website. We do not use cookies for targeted advertising.
9. Your Rights
Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:
- Access — Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Correction — Request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date information
- Complaint — Lodge a complaint if you believe your privacy has been breached
- Anonymity — In some circumstances, interact with us without identifying yourself (though this may limit the services we can provide)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:
- Email: info@tcoop.co
- Mail: Unit 3, 193 Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia
We will respond to access and correction requests within 30 days. If we refuse a request, we will provide written reasons and information about how to complain.
10. Notifiable Data Breaches
In the event of an eligible data breach that is likely to result in serious harm to any individual, we will:
- Notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as soon as practicable
- Notify affected individuals as soon as practicable
- Include in the notification: a description of the breach, the types of information involved, and recommended steps individuals should take
This is in accordance with Part IIIC of the Privacy Act 1988 (Notifiable Data Breaches scheme).
11. Automated Decision-Making
We may use automated tools and AI-assisted features as part of our service delivery, including chat support and service matching. Where automated decisions are made that significantly affect you, you have the right to request human review. To request human review or further information, contact info@tcoop.co.
12. Children's Privacy
Our services are designed for business professionals and are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information about a minor, please contact us immediately at info@tcoop.co, and we will take steps to delete such information.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other operational reasons.
- Minor changes (clarifications, formatting, non-material updates) may take effect immediately upon posting to our website.
- Material changes (changes to how we collect, use, or share your data) will be notified to members via email at least 30 days before taking effect.
The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy will always reflect the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. How to Make a Complaint
If you believe we have breached your privacy or mishandled your personal information, you can:
- Contact us first — Email info@tcoop.co with details of your concern. We will investigate and respond within 30 days.
- Escalate if needed — If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.
15. Contact Us
The Tech COOP Pty Ltd ABN: 89 695 606 387
Privacy Enquiries: info@tcoop.co Address: Unit 3, 193 Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia Website: https://tcoop.co
